Improvement in devices for cleaning horses



J. H. FENT ON. Device for Cleaning Horses.

No. 208,803. P a tent-ed Oct. 8,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN H. FENTON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR CLEANING HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,803, dated October 8, 187? application filed April 22, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. FENTON, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful device for removing old and loose growths of hair and eft'ete matter collected therein from the new growth in horses, mules, and other animals that are about to shed their old coats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in the construction and application of' the new instrument hereinafter described, which has for its object the removal of old loosened coats of hair and eft'ete matter collected therein from the hide of animals by scraping or drawing the instrument, which I call a hair-shedder, over the hide.

Heretofore curry-combs made of iron, rubber, or wood, also cards and brushes, have been used for the purpose of cleaning animals; and it is a well-known fact that such devices may be passed through the hair for hours without removing but a small portion of the old loose hair, and that when said appliances have been used until no more of the shedding coats will come out, the coat of the animal is not freed from the old hair and effete matter collected thereon, as is clearly shown by making a few passes through the hair with the outstretched fingers of the human hand. The fingers adhere to the loose hair, and show that the skin is still full of it.

The success of any instrument for removing this old loose coat of hair in animals depends upon three essential qualities, to wit: first, the instrument must have the property of adhering to the hair; second, that part of it coming in direct contact with the hair should have a pcculiar shape; and, third, it must be elastic. The human fingers, when outstretched, represent these qualities better than any device heretofore invented; but my invention operates much better than the fingers possibly can. India-rubber has the property of adhering to hair when pressed against and drawn over it; but its effectiveness depends on the shape of the material where it presses on the hide.

In order to effectually remove a shedding coat from an animal, the instrument employed must be indented upon the hide and partially embedded in the hair with a moderate pressure as it is drawn or scraped over the hair. This indentation upon the hide of the animal is accomplished by making the edges of the hair-shedder corrugated or scalloped, so that each projection of the corrugation shall make a small indentation, and thereby take hold of the loose hairs as the instrument is drawn or scraped over the hide with apressure.

The fact that adhesive material, with or without indentations, is necessary to produce the result of removing from animals the old loosened coats of hair and efiete matter collected therein seems never to have been discovered prior to my invention.

In the accompanying drawing, in which like letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my newly-invented hair-shedder. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a curry-comb with the hai rshedder attached. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the handle. Fig. 5 represents a side view of a curry-comb, showing the hair-shedder attached thereto at an angle.

A represents the handle, and B the elastic or adhesive scraper. This scraper is made from india-rubber, of a convenient thickness to produce stiffness, and at the same time be elastic. The outer edge of the india-rubber scraper is provided with corrugations or scallops F, as shown. The scraper B may be constructed and used without a handle; but a handle of some sort is preferred,-and for convenience I prefer a handle like that shown in Fig. 4.. In this case the handles are plates of wood or metal, H, and are secured to the sides of the scraper B, so as to give the required stiffness to the rubber, and at the same time give a good hand-hold, and the scraper will present all of its edges filled with corrugations or scallops for use.

Other forms of handles, such as that shown in Fig. 1, may be used, if desired, in which case the scraper Bis secured to the handle by a clamp or bar, G, and screws 0 G. The head of said screws should be countersunk to prevent catching the hair. In this arrange ment 1 am enabled to secure the scraper, so that when the corrugations or scallops F are worn ofl' from one edge the scraper can be reversed in the handle, and a new edge, full of corrugations or scallops, presented for use.

The edges of the corrugations or scallops should be beveled slightly, in order to present more surface to the hair.

This instrument is used by putting the corrugated edges upon the hair and drawing or pulling it over the hide with a pressure.

' \Vhat I claim as new, nnd'desire to seem-e by Letters Patent, is-- As A new article of manufacture, u hairshedder made of indie-rubber, having corrugated or uneven edges, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. FENTON.

Witnesses: 

